Day 8

I didn’t just ride through the mountains today I ripped a new road though the middle, in fact the way I went I could of drilled a new tunnel!! If there’s a problem with the road surface its my fault.. hands up!!.

The day didn’t start like that though

After day 7 ending the way it did, being absolutely freezing last night and being informed that we were in the windiest town the USA I really wasn’t looking forward to today. I’m on the back foot again and I’d got ground to make up but then when I did manage to drag myself out of bed everything hurt again, I could of quite easily stayed in the van.

We stayed in a McDonalds car park and the manager had let us us there Wifi over night, I chatted with a few friends online had a coffee and though I’d best make a move, got my kit on, checked the route with Jonny and made my way.

As I started it felt like I was pulling a truck behind me, I couldn’t help but think it was going to be a very long, very tedious day and to be fair I was staring to think I’d over cooked my intensions, maybe I should be having more than one rest day?? maybe this route was a bit much, I mean I couldn’t of made it much harder.. As I came out of town along another straight road it turns 90 degrees and starts to rise, I started to find the right gear but I only had two left, I was already in the granny gears… this is going to be a long day!!

As I started to climb I all of a sudden woke up, less than two years ago I was laying in bed and I couldn’t even lift my head, I couldn’t move, it was touch and go if would even make it. Would I ever walk again, would they ever be able to put all my stomach back together maybe I’d need a bag for the rest of my life. I had two options lay there and do nothing, be fed, washed, have my arse wiped and have someone look after me for the rest of my life or I could man up!! maybe even if I did man up I would still end up with the above but if I didn’t try I’d never know. Ever hurdle that came after that was the same and trust me there where plenty. This is what i had to do today.. Man up!!

After that the day was amazing I was flying, it’s like I said the other day we all have mountains, today was my mountain I got over it got on with it and it paid dividends beyond belief. It was one of the most comfortable days I’ve had for a long time I was climbing well, I was sitting right and descending like a pro (even if i do say so). Coming down from 9800ft was breathless hitting 45s in the turns and 50s on the straights I felt like there was no stopping me, I had a couple near misses with some sheets of ice, bunny hops on a road bike at 47MPH are interesting, I was buzzing and laughing all at the same time, I was on fire.

I thought yet again about why I’m doing this and why I decided to do it in the first place. Its about cancer, recovery and helping others right??!! well the people I/we are trying to help, they don’t have the luxury of giving up or not giving everything all day everyday so who am I to think that I can.

Something else that came from today, is that I’ve started to be lazy and forgotten what I’m really capable of as well as the best days are still to come and they will soon be here, were out the mountains, in New Mexico and over the continental divide.. Thats the first week done and I’m really thinking it was just training. let the proper riding begin.

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